Coin operated billiard table



Feb. 24, 1970 w, LE MIEUX ETAL 3,497,048

COIN OPERATED BILLIARD TABLE Filed Jan. 25, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet l 25 Q Z {a 6 4 v 4x591 04) zll . fawm,

%z, I W- W Feb. 24, 1970 R. w. LE MlEUX ErAL 3,497,048

COIN OPERATED BILLIARD TABLE Filed Jan. 25, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 24, 1970 LE WEUX Em. 3,497,048

COIN OPERATED BILLIARD TABLE Filed Jan. 25, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 gt f 16 v i 67 7fi 1 Feb. 24, 1970 L I UX EI'AL 3,497,048

COIN OPERATED BILLIARD TABLE Filed Jan. 25, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent US. Cl. 194-1 21 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A billiard table in which the object balls roll to an inaccessible storage area after they are shot into a pocket with the balls being retained in a single row by a support structure in the storage area, and wherein the cue ball rolls to an accessible pick up area after it has been scratched. A coin controlled mechanism is provided for moving the object balls from the storage area to an accessible pick up area, and the mechanism includes a movable ball shifting element engageable with each of the balls in the row to positively transfer them to the pick up area.

Background of the invention This invention relates in general to billiard tables, and more particularly to billiard tables of the type wherein the object balls are stored within the table itself, and are released for use by the deposit of a coin of appropriate denomination in a coin mechanism.

In view of the recent increase of popularity of the game of pocket billiards, those skilled in the art have endeavored to provide a suitable coin controlled billiard table. The desirability of such a billiard table in eliminating the need for an attendant monitoring a plurality of billiard tables in a public establishment has been well recognized. While various attempts have been made in the past to provide a commercially suitable coin controlled billiard table, heretofore such tables have not met with wide commercial acceptability.

One of the major weaknesses in coin controlled billiard tables that have been proposed in the past has been the failure to provide a unit which would be reliable in operation after repeated use. Heretofore, after the object balls have been pocketed, they roll to a manually inaccessible storage area where they are stored until the coin mechamsm is operated by the deposit of a coin of appropriate denomination. In such known structures, it has been conventional to provide a movable barrier element which retains the balls in the storage area, and once the coin mechanism is actuated, the barrier element is moved and the object balls roll by gravity down an inclined track or the like to an accessible pick up area. The gravity feed type of object ball transfer has not proven to be sufficiently reliable as to be commercially acceptable, since contaminants or foreign objects often prevent the proper movement of the object balls from the storage area to the pick up area, and furthermore, the object balls are usually randomly arranged in the storage area and often become jammed therein.

Summary of the invention The billiard table of the present invention provides a novel means for obviating the problems noted above, and more particularly, the billiard table of the present invention includes a unique coin controlled mechanism that moves a ball shifting element to positively displace object balls from a ball storage area for movement of the balls to a ball pick up area. The object balls in the billiard table of the present invention are positioned in a single row in the ball storage area, and the coin operated mechanism 3,497,048 Patented Feb. 24, 1970 ice moves a ball striking element, which engages each of the balls in the ball storage area, to positively displace the balls from the storage area for movement to a ball pick up area. The ball striking element of the present invention is an elongate rod-like member which forms a portion of a cage-like structure that includes a further elongate rod-like element that provides a barrier structure normally preventing access to the ball storage area. The ball pick up area is located immediately outwardly of the ball storage area, so that the balls will roll directly to the ball pick up area when they are engaged by the ball striking element. The coin mechanism of the present invention includes a novel cam lever arrangement permitting the ball striking element to move when the coin mechanism is actuated, and the coin mechanism further includes an anticheat member for preventing balls from moving to the ball storage area when the coin mechanism is actuated.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of a billiard table formed in accordance with the present invention, with a portion of the billiard table apron being broken away to illustrate means for separating the cue ball from the object balls;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the billiard table illustrated in FIG. 1, with a portion of the billiard table apron being broken away to illustrate means for separating the cue ball from the object balls;

FIG. 2a is a fragmentary top plan view of the end of the billiard table illustrated in FIG. 2, with certain portions broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, broken plan view of the coin mechanism and ball holding structure of the present invention, with certain elements being broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and illustrating the structure in a ball retaining or playing position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 3, and illustrating the structure in a ball retaining or playing position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 4', and showing the structure in a ball removal position during actuation of the coin mechanism; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, and showing the structure in a ball removal position during actuation of the coin mechanism.

Description of the preferred embodiment While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one specific embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the billiard table of the present invention is illustrated in its entirety at .10 in FIGS. 1 and 2, and billiard table 10 includes a top or bed portion 11 supported by a pair of spaced legs 12, one of which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The billiard table bed 11 includes generally upright apron members 13 at the sides and ends thereof, with rail structures 14 being provided at the upper ends of apron members 13. The bed 11 also includes cushion members around the inner periphery of rail structures .14, with a horizontal playing surface being provided inwardly of the rail structures and below the cushion members thereon. As is conventional, corner pocket structures 15 are provided at each corner of the billiard table 10, and side pocket 3 structures 16 (FIGS. 4-7) are provided at the center of each side of the table. As is also conventional, inclined track members T (FIG. 2a) are positioned below the pocket structures 16 above base member 17, and convey all of the balls entering the pocket structures to the right hand end of the table 10, as viewed in FIG. 2.

Means is provided within the bed asesmbly 11 of the table for separating the cue ball from the object balls, and while the specific means to be hereafter described contemplates that the cue ball will be slightly larger in diameter than the object balls, it will be appreciated that other types of separation means may be employed, as for example by forming the cue ball of a magnetically attractive material, or embedding magnetically attractive material in a conventional cue ball, and using a magnet to separate the cue ball from the object balls. The cue ball separator means is illustrated generally at 20 in FIG. 1, it being understood that generally identically shaped separator means is provided at each side of the table. The separator means 20 includes parallel support members 21 screwed or otherwised suitably secured to the end portion 22 of base 17, and a separator member 23 screwed or otherwise suitably secured to support members 21. Members 21 and 23 are inclined toward the center of the table and members 21 terminate short of an opening 24 that is provided centrally of the apron member 13 at the end of the table, as is clear from FIG. 1. Track members T terminate above members 23, so that all balls being carried by the track members T will leave the track members adjacent members 23. Separator member 23 has an elongate opening 25 therein, with the width of opening 25 being less than the diameter of the cue ball, so that when the cue ball rolls off track member T, it will roll down separator member 23. Separator member 23 terminates short of member 21, so that the cue ball will roll down a plate P and a ramp R to opening 24 at the end of the table. A generally U-shaped holding member 24a is secured to the end apron member 13, and supports the cue ball when it emerges from opening 24. The width of opening 25 in separator member 23 is greater than the diameter of the object balls, so that the object balls will fall through separator member 23, rather than being conveyed to opening 24. Respective openings 26 and 27 are provided between support members 21 and in base member 22 to allow the object balls to pass outwardly from the bed assembly 11 into a ball supporting and guiding trackway 28.

Track 28 is inclined downwardly from right to left as viewed in FIG. 1, and the track 28 is formed of a plurality of spaced, generally parallel elongate rod-like members 29 that are secured to generally U-shaped hanger brackets 30, which in turn are secured to the bed assembly .11. Track 28 terminates adjacent a side of the table 10, and communicates with a further track 28a that is downwardly inclined from right to left as viewed in FIG. 2. Track 28a is similar to track 28 in that it is comprised of a plurality of spaced, elongate rod-like members 29a that are secured to a generally circular hanger bracket 30a, which in turn is secured to the bed assembly 11. Rod elements 29 and 2911 are spaced sufficiently close to one another to prevent the object balls moving along the tracks 28 and 28a from being manually removed.

A ball storage area 32 is provided to the left of track 28a, as viewed in FIG. 2, and the ball support means in the ball support area 32 will be best understood by a comparison of FIG. 3 with FIGS. 4 and 5. The ball support structure is provided between a pair of spaced parallel mounting plates 33 and 34 that are disposed per pendicularly with respect to the length of the table 10, and plate 33 includes a flange 33" at the upper end thereof which is secured to the undersurface of the bed assembly 11. An upright member 35 is positioned in the ball support area 32, and member 35 includes a generally vertically disposd rear portion 36 having lateral flanges 37 secured to mounting plates 33 and 34, with a horizontally disposed flange 38 at the upper end of portion 36 being secured to the lower portion of bed 11. A further member 39 extends forwardly perpendicular to members 36, with member 39 being inclined downwardly from right to left as viewed in FIG. 2. An inclined portion 40 extends upwardly and outwardly from the outer end of member 39, and a further portion 41 extends vertically downwardly from the upper end of portion 40 to define therebetween a rail 42 that is inclined downwardly from right to left as viewed in FIG. 2. The right hand end of rail 42 is positioned in alignment with a circular opening 33a in mounting plate 33, and as is evident from FIG. 5, opening 33a has a diameter slightly larger than that of an object ball B, so as to allow object balls to pass freely through the mounting plate 33.

An open cage-like assembly 45 is movably mounted in ball storage area 32 between mounting plates 33 and 34, and assembly 45 includes a pair of spaced, parallel crescent or C-shaped carrier plates 46 at opposite ends of the assembly adjacent mounting plates 33 and 34, respectively. As is evident from FIG. 5, the open portion of plates 46 faces forwardly toward rail 42, with the curved portion 46a of the carrier plate 46 adjacent mounting plate 33 providing sufiicient clearance around opening 33a to allow the object balls to pass freely through the mounting plate 33 and into the storage area 32. Assembly 45 further includes a hinge rod 47 that is pivotally mounted in mounting plates 33 and 34, and hinge rod 47 supports the assembly 45 in the ball storage area 32 for movement toward and away from rail 42. Hinge rod 47 is fixed to carrier plates 46, as by welding or the like, and an enlarged drive hub 48 is fixed to the left hand end of hinge rod 47, as viewed in FIG. 3, to make a driving connection with means for pivoting rod 47, as will hereafter appear. Assembly 45 further includes a plurality of spaced, parallel elongate rods 49-51 that are rigidly secured at spaced positions to carrier plates 46, as by Welding, with rods 49-51, as well as hinge rod 47, being inclined downwardly from right to left as viewed in FIG. 2 so as to be parallel with rail 42.

From the above, it will be apparent that the assembly 45 swings about an axis defined by hinge rod 47 that is inclined with respect to mounting plates 33 and 34, with the extent of movement being on the order of 18 /2 as is apparent from a comparison of FIGS. 5 and 7. Rod 51 cooperates with rail 42 to define the ball support means in the ball storage area 32, it being understood that object balls entering the ball storage area 32 through the opening 33a in mounting plate 33 will roll along inclined rod 51 and inclined rail 42 until the balls come to rest in a single row either against the mounting plate 34 or other balls present on the ball support means. As is evident from FIG. 5, the center of opening 33a is offset to the left or inwardly of rail 42, so that balls present on the ball support means will be positioned with their center of gravity disposed inwardly of rail 42.

In the ball retaining position of the structure, as is illustrated in FIG. 5, rod 49 is spaced from rail 42 by a distance less than the diameter of the object balls, so that the rod 49 provides a barrier means preventing manual withdrawal of the object balls from the ball support means. When the coin mechanism to be hereafter described is actuated, assembly 45 is pivoted about the axis of hinge rod 47 from the position of FIG. 5 to the position of FIG. 7, and rod 51 serves as a striking element to engage each of the balls supported in single row fashion between rail 42 and rod 51 to positively displace the balls to an extent that the center of gravity of the balls is disposed outwardly of the rail 42, whereupon the balls are free to fall by gravity, as is indicated by the directional arrow in FIG. 7, to a ball pick up area 53. As is clear from FIG. 7, when the assembly 45 has been pivoted, barrier rod 49 moves to a position spaced from rail 42 a distance greater than the diameter of the object balls, so that the balls can freely pass to the ball pick up area 53.

An elongate rod 54 extends between mounting plates 33 and 34, and is spaced from the vertical portion 41 of member 35 by a distance less than the diameter of the object balls, so that the rail 42 and rod 54 cooperate to support the object balls in the ball pick up area 53.

A coin operated mechanism 55 is provided at the left hand end (FIG. 2) of the ball storage area 32 for controlling movement of the assembly 45 between the ball retaining and ball discharging positions. The coin mechanism 55 includes a housing having a top wall 56, a bottom wall 57, a rear wall 58, a front wall 59, an outer side wall 60, and an inner wall defined by mounting plate 34. Walls 56-60 are secured to one another and to wall 34 by screws 61 which pass through flanged portions of the various walls. A flange 60a at the upper end of outer side wall 60 is secured to the undersurface of the bed assembly 11. A slide support and guiding member 62 is secured to the front wall 59 of the coin mechanism housing, and member 62 supports a coin deposit slide 63 in a horizontal position for reciprocating movement relative to th coin mechanism housing. As is well known, slide 63 is provided with a suitable coin deposit slot 64, and conventional coin sensing and receiving means (not shown) is provided within the coin mechanism housing to sense the presence of a coin of proper denomination within slot 64 and to receive the coin therefrom, so that the slide 63 can be moved from the outer position of FIG. 4 to the inner or actuated position of FIG. 6.

An abutment is secured to the inner end of slide 63 for cooperation with an anti-cheat structure to be hereafter described for preventing balls from moving into the ball storage area 32 during actuation of the coin mechanism, and the abutment includes a horizontally disposed portion 65 that is secured to the inner end of slide 63 by screws 66. The abutment further includes a generally vertically disposed, forwardly extending portion 67 having a cam follower thereon in the form of a roller 68. Cam follower roller 68 rides in a cam slot 69 in an actuating lever 70, with the cam slot 69 and cam follower roller 68 cooperating to allow the cage assembly 45 to be pivoted to the actuated position when the slide 63 is depressed, as will hereinafter appear. A drive sleeve 71 ('FIG. 3) is fixed to the forwardmost end of actuating lever 70 by screw 72, and drive sleeve 71 extends through an opening in mounting plate 34 to mount the actuating lever 70 for pivotal movement relative to the mounting plate 34. The outer end of sleeve 71 makes a driving connecion with the enlarged hub 48 on hinge rod 47, so that when actuating lever 70 is pivoted, hinge rod 47 and cage assembly 45 will move relative to the ball storage area 32. A spring 73 is connected between the rearwardmost portion of actuating lever 70 and the bottom plate 57 of the coin mechanism housing to bias the actuating lever 70 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot axis, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 6.

A guide plate 74 is provided within the coin mechanism housing adjacent actuating lever 70, and guide plate 74 is fixed to mounting plate 34 by screws 75. Guide plate 74 is provided with a horizontally disposed slot 76, and cam follower roller 68 extends through the cam slot 69 in actuating lever 70 into the guide slot 76 in plate 74. The cam slot 69 includes two angularly related portions, with the forwardmost portion 69a being disposed generally horizontally in the ball retaining position illustrated in FIG. 4, and with the rearwardmost portion 69b extending upwardly and rearwardly from portion 69a. Thus, as slide 63 is depressed, the slide support member 62 and the cooperative action between roller 68 and guide slot 76 function to retain the slide 63 in a horizontal disposition; and as the roller 68 moves from the cam slot portion 69a to the cam slot portion 69b, the actuating lever 70 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction from the position of FIG. 4 to the position of FIG. 6 by spring 73. This latter movement, of course, shifts the cage assembly 45 to move the barrier rod 49 relative to the rail 42 to a clearance position, while the ball striking rod 51 positively shifts each of the object balls in the single row for movement of the balls to the ball pick up station 53. The upper surface of cam slot 69 includes a curved cam profile 69c, so that as the slide 63 is moved to the right from the position of FIG. 6 to the position of FIG. 4, the roller 68 cams the actuating lever in a clockwise direction about its pivot axis against the bias of spring 73.

The present invention includes means for preventing balls from moving into the ball storage area 32 during actuation of the coin mechanism, and to this end, an elongate rod 80 extends through the ball support area, and is pivotally mounted in support plates 33 and 34 by suitable bearings 81. The right hand end 82 of rod 80, as viewed in FIG. 3, is externally threaded, and a ball stop member 83 is fixed on rod portion 82 by jam nuts 84 and lock washers 85. Rod 80 has an offset end portion 36 that is disposed at right angles with respect to the length of the rod positioned in the ball storage area 32, when viewed from the top as in FIG. 3, and rod portion 86 is positioned in the path of movement of abutment portion 65, as is evident from FIGS. 3, 4 and 6. When the coin mechanism is actuated by depressing slide 63 from the position of FIG. 4 to the position of FIG. 6, abutment portion 65 moves into engagement with rod portion 86 to pivot the rod in a clockwise direction, and stop member 83 is moved from a clearance position above the opening 33a in mounting plate 33 to a position blocking balls from passing through opening 33a, as can be best seen in FIG. 7. It will be appreciated that when the coin deposit slide 63 has been depressed to transfer the object balls from the ball storage area to the ball pick up area, stop member 83 prevents balls from entering the ball storage area, so that the coin mechanism cannot be bypassed. When the coin deposit slide 63 is moved outwardly from the position of FIG. 6 to the position of FIG. 4 to return the cage assembly 45 to the ball retaining position, stop member 83 is moved to a clearance position disposed above opening 33a to again allow balls to move into the ball storage area 32. In the illustrated embodiment, rod portion 86 has suflicient mass offset from the pivot axis of the rod 80, so that the stop member 83 will automatically be moved to the clearance position, although it will be appreciated that an assisting spring may be provided to effect the return movement of the stop member 83.

We claim:

.1. A billiard table comprising: a bed having a playing surface thereon; ball storage support means for normally retaining a set of balls in a manually inaccessible position; a plurality of pockets in said bed adjacent said playing surface; means establishing communication between said pockets and said ball storage support means; a manually accessible ball removal support adjacent said storage support means, said ball removal support providing simultaneous access to all of the balls in the set; and means for positively transferring the set of balls from said ball storage support means to said ball removal support including, a shifting element for said set of balls adapted to move relative to said ball storage support means for simultaneously moving said set of balls, and coin operated means coupled to said shifting element for moving said shifting element to positively transfer said set of balls simultaneously from said ball storage support means to said removal support.

2. A billiard table as set forth in claim 1 in which said ball storage support means is defined by a rail inclined with respect to said bed, said ball shifting element being spaced from said rail and cooperating therewith to support a single row of balls with the center of gravity of the balls between the rail and the shifting element, said ball removal support being located outwardly of said rail; and wherein the range of movement of said shifting element by said coin operated means is sufiicient to move the center of gravity of said balls past said rail, whereby said balls are free to move to said ball removal support.

3. A billiard table as set forth in claim 2 in which said ball shifting element is mounted for arcuate movement relative to said rail, and wherein said coin operated means includes a crank mechanism for moving said shifting element.

4. A billiard table comprising: a bed having a playing surface thereon; a ball storage support means for nonremovably retaining balls including a rail inclined with respect to said bed; a plurality of pockets in said bed adjacent said playing surface; means establishing communication between said pockets and said ball storage support means; a manually accessible ball removal support adjacent said storage support means, said ball removal support being located outwardly of said rail; and means for positively transferring balls from said ball storage support means to said ball removal support including, a ball shifting element adapted to move relative to said ball storage support means, said ball shifting element being spaced from said rail and cooperating therewith to support a single row of balls with the center of gravity of the balls between the rail and the shifting element, coin operated means coupled to said shifting element for moving said shifting element through a range of movement sufficient to positively move the center of gravity of said balls past said rail to positively transfer balls from said ball storage support means to said removal support, and a barrier member mounted for movement with said shifting element, said barrier member normally being spaced from said rail by a distance less than the diameter of said balls and said barrier member being movable to a position spaced from said rail a distance greater than the diameter of said balls upon actuation of said coin operated mechanism.

5. A billiard table as set forth in claim 4 in which said ball shifting element and said barrier member are defined by generally parallel elongate rods that are substantially coextensive with said rail, and wherein connecting plates extend between said rods adjacent opposite ends thereof to couple the rods for movement together.

6. A billiard table as set forth in claim 5 wherein said connecting plates are generally C-shaped members, with the open portion of the C facing toward the rail.

7. A billiard table as set forth in claim 4 in which mounting plates are fixed relative to said bed at opposite ends of said rail, said means establishing communication between said pockets and said ball storage support means including an opening in the mounting plate adjacent the ball entrance end of the rail, the opening having a diameter larger than the diameter of said balls and the center of said opening being located between said ball shifting element and said rail.

8. A billiard table as set forth in claim 7 in which a hinge rod is pivotally mounted in said mounting plates with the axis of said hinge rod being offset from said opening, said hinge rod being fixed to said ball shifting element and barrier member; and wherein said coin operated means is operatively connected with said hinge rod.

9. The billiard table as set forth in claim 4 wherein said coin operated means includes a housing with a crank mechanism therein, said crank mechanism including an actuating lever mounted for pivotal movement relative to said housing, said actuating lever being coupled to said ball shifting element and barrier member, a coin deposit slide mounted for reciprocating movement relative to said housing from an outer coin receiving position to an inner actuating position, said slide having means thereon cooperating with means on said actuating lever for enabling the actuating lever to pivot when said slide is in the actuating position to thereby move said ball shifting element and said barrier member.

10. A billiard table as set forth in claim 9 wherein spring means is provided in said housing for pivoting said actuating lever.

11. A billiard table as set forth in claim 10 wherein the cooperating means on the actuating lever and coin deposit slide include a cam slot in said actuating lever and a cam follower on said slide and received in said cam slot, said cam slot having an offset portion enabling said actuating lever to be pivoted by said spring means.

12. A billiard table as set forth in claim 11 in which said cam follower is defined by a roller extending laterally outwardly of said slide, and wherein a guide plate is fixed in said housing adjacent said actuating lever, said guide plate having a rectilinear guide slot therein with said cam follower roller passing through the cam slot in said actuating lever and into said guide slot.

13. A billiard table as set forth in claim 11 wherein said cam slot has a profile shaped to allow said cam follower to move said actuating lever to its initial position upon movement of said slide from the inner to the outer position.

14. A billiard table as set forth in claim 7 in which a stop member is mounted adjacent the opening in the mounting plate at the ball entrance end of said ball storage area for movement between a first position allowing balls to pass through said opening and a second position blocking passage. of balls through said opening; and wherein means, responsive to movement of said co-in operated means to actuate the shifting element and barrier member, is provided for moving said stop member from first to second position.

15. A billiard table as set forth in claim 14 wherein said means for moving said top member from first to second position includes an actuating rod pivotally mounted in said mounting plates and having said stop member fixed thereon, said actuating rod having an offset end portion positioned to be engaged by an abutment on said coin operated means upon movement of the latter to actuate the shifting element and barrier member.

16. A billiard table as set forth in claim 15 wherein the offset end portion of the actuating rod has sufficient mass offset from the pivot axis of the actuating rod to return said stop member from second to first position when said coin operated means is returned to normal position.

17. A billiard table as set forth in claim 4 wherein an elongate ball support rod extends generally parallel with said rail outwardly thereof and said ball removal support is provided between said ball support rod and said rail.

18. A ball storing and discharging structure for use in a billiard table or the like comprising: a pair of spaced, generally parallel mounting plates, one of said plates having a ball passage therein; a first inclined ball support member extending between said plates, the upper end of said ball support member being positioned in ball receiving relationship with respect to said passage; a second inclined ball support member extending between said plates in parallelism with said first ball support member, a barrier member extending between said plates, said second ball support member being movable between a first position wherein the upper end of the second ball support member is positioned in ball receiving relationship with respect to said passage and wherein said barrier member is positioned to prevent removal of balls from said ball support members and a second position wherein the spacing between the ball support members is altered and said barrier member is shifted to discharge a plurality of balls therefrom; and means for moving said second ball support member and said barrier member between said first and second positions.

19. A ball storing and discharging structure for use in a billiard table or the like comprising: a pair of spaced, generally parallel mounting plates, one of said plates having a ball passage therein; a first inclined ball support member extending between said plates, the upper end of said ball support member being positioned in ball receiving relationship with respect to said passage; a second inclined ball support member extending between said plates in parallelism with said first ball support member, said second ball support member being movable between a first position wherein the upper end of the. second ball support member is positioned in ball receiving relationship with respect to said passage with the center of said passage disposed between said ball support members so that balls will be supported on the ball support members in a single row with center of gravity of the balls positioned between the ball support members, and a second position wherein said second ball support member is closer to said first ball support member in said second position then in said first position to shift the center of gravity of theballs outwardly of said first ball support member to discharge balls therefrom; and means for moving said second ball support member between said first and second positions.

20. A ball storing and discharging structure for use in a billiard table or the like comprising: a pair of spaced, generally parallel mounting plates, one of said plates having a ball passage therein; a first inclined ball support member extending between said plates, the upper end of said ball support member being positioned in ball receiving relationship with respect to said passage; a second inclined ball support member extending between said plates in parallelism with said first ball support member, said second ball support member being movable between a first position wherein the upper end of the second ball support member is positioned in ball receiving relationship with respect to said passage and a second position wherein the spacing between the ball support members is altered to discharge balls therefrom; and means for moving said second ball support member between said first and second positions, and a ball stop member mounted for movement between a first position allowing balls to pass through said passage and a second position blocking said passage, and wherein the means for moving said second ball support member also moves said ball stop member.

21. A billiard table comprising, a bed having a playing surface thereon; a plurality of pockets in said bed adjacent said playing surface; a ball storage area externally of said bed for non-removably retaining balls; means establishing communication between said pockets and said ball storage area; a manually accessible ball removal area adjacent said storage area; and means for positively transferring a plurality of balls from said ball storage area to said ball removal area wherein said plurality of balls are simultaneously accessible.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,221,803 4/1917 Johnston. 1,270,595 6/1918 Catfield. 2,047,048 7/1936 Abbott et a]. 273-1l STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 27311 

